William Henry Freeman (May 10, 1844 – August 26, 1911) was a
Union Army soldier during the
American Civil War. He received the
Medal of Honor for gallantry during the
Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.
Military service
Freeman enlisted in the Army from his birthplace of
Troy, New York in September 1862, and was assigned to Company B of the
169th New York Volunteer Infantry
The 169th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Service
The 169th New York Infantry was organized at Troy and Staten Island, New York. Companies A through E were mustered on September ...
.
On January 15, 1865, the
North Carolina Confederate stronghold of
Fort Fisher was taken by a combined Union storming party of sailors, marines, and soldiers under the command of Admiral
David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter (June 8, 1813 – February 13, 1891) was a United States Navy admiral and a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the U.S. Navy. Promoted as the second U.S. Navy officer ever to attain the rank o ...
and General
Alfred Terry.
Freeman mustered out with his regiment in July 1865.
Regimental roster
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Medal of Honor citation
For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private William Henry Freeman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 15 January 1865, while serving with Company B, 169th New York Infantry, in action at Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Private Freeman volunteered to carry the brigade flag after the bearer was wounded.
General Orders: Date of Issue: May 27, 1905
Action Date: January 15, 1865
Service: Army
Rank: Private
Company: Company B
Division: 169th New York Infantry
See also
*List of Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their ...
* List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F
References
*
*
1844 births
1911 deaths
Union Army soldiers
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
People of New York (state) in the American Civil War
American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
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